Method for producing fragrant alcohols

ABSTRACT

This invention relates generally to methods and compositions for producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising contacting a sesquiterpene with a P450 polypeptide with monooxygenase activity.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/877,183 filed on Jan. 22, 2018, now U.S. patent Ser. No. 10/570,420, which was a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/023,640, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,909,145, filed Mar. 21, 2016, which is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application PCT/EP2014/070060 filed on Sep. 19, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 61/880,149, filed on Sep. 19, 2013. The entire contents of each of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

SUBMISSION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application is filed in electronic format via EFS-Web and hereby incorporated by reference into the specification in its entirety. The name of the text file containing the Sequence Listing is 9000US_DIV_SequenceListing. The size of the text file is 423 KB, and the text file was created on Jan. 16, 2018.

FIELD

The field relates to cytochrome P450s and uses to produce sesquiterpene alcohols.

BACKGROUND

Terpenes hydrocarbons such as alpha and beta santalenes have been produced via biochemical processes for example such as through genetically altered cells. These terpenes and the alcohol derived from them are major constituents of sandalwood oil and the alcohols are important perfumery ingredients typically obtained commercially through the distillation of the heartwood of Santalum species (e.g., Sandalwood). Examples of such alcohols include α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol and epi-β-santalol. Although new biochemical pathways have been developed, including genetically engineered cells, to generate the terpene hydrocarbons, it is desirable to find a biochemical pathway to generate and produce the alcohols derived from the santalenes. It is further desirable to use a biochemical pathway to not only generate such alcohols but it is further desirable to selectively produce, via a biochemical pathway, cis-isomers of the alcohols such as iso-α-sinensol, iso-β-sinensol, (Z)-α-santalol, (Z)-β-santalol, (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol and (Z)-epi-β-santalol.

Cytochrome P450s represent a family of enzymes of oxidases. P450s commonly catalyze a monooxygenase reaction. Cytochrome P450 enzymes are classified into families and subfamilies based on the amino acid sequences homology. Members of a same subfamily share over 55% amino acid sequence identity and have usually similar enzymatic activities (substrate and/or product selectivity). CYP71AV1 (NCBI accession No ABB82944.1, SEQ ID No. 51 and 52) and CYP71AV8 (NCBI accession No ADM86719.1, SEQ ID No. 1 and 2) are two members of the CYP71AV sub-family and shares 78% sequence identity. CYP71AV1 has previously been shown to oxidize amorphadiene (Teoh et al, FEBS letters 580 (2006) 1411-1416). CYP71AV8 has previously been shown to oxidize (+)-valencene, germacrene A and amorphadiene (Cankar et al, FEBS Lett. 585(1), 178-182 (2011)).

Processes using engineered cells have been reported that use terpene synthases to catalyze the production of a diterpene or sesquiterpene. The diterpenes or sesquiterpenes were further processed using a cytochrome P450 polypeptide to catalyze the hydroxylation, oxidation, demethylation or methylation of the diterpene or sesquiterpene produced by the cell.

SUMMARY

Provided herein is a method of producing an sesquiterpene alcohol comprising:

i) contacting a terpene of Formula I:

with a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45% of sequence identify to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 81; and

ii) optionally isolating the alcohol wherein R is a saturated, mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated aliphatic group composed of 9 carbons and wherein R can be a branched chain or composed of one or more non-aromatic rings.

Further provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or or mixtures thereof comprising:

i) contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene, epi-β-santalene, and/or β-bisabolene, with a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45% of sequence identify to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 73, SEQ ID NO: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 81 to produce the alcohol; and

ii) optionally isolating the alcohol.

Also provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide having a P450 monooxygenase activity wherein the sesquiterpene alcohol produced comprises at least, or at least about, 36% of a cis isomer.

Further provided herein is an isolated polypeptide having monooxygenase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least, or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or more identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO:73.

Further provided herein is an isolated polypeptide having monooxygenase activity comprising an amino acid sequence that is at least, or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or more identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 81.

Also provided herein is an isolated polypeptide having monooxygenase activity comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: SEQ ID NO:28, SEQ ID NO:30, SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO:36, SEQ ID NO:71, SEQ ID NO:73 SEQ ID NO: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 81.

Further provided herein is method of producing a sesquiterpene alcohol selected from the group consisting of α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, and lancelol or mixtures thereof:

i) cultivating a cell under conditions suitable to produce a p450 polypeptide having monooxygenase activity wherein the cell: a) produces a acylic pyrophosphate terpene precursor; b) expresses a P450 reductase, c) expresses a polypeptide that has α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, synthase activity and produces α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene and d) expresses a polypeptide with an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45% of sequence identify to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36, SEQ ID NO: 38, SEQ ID NO: 40, SEQ ID NO: 42, SEQ ID NO: 44, SEQ ID NO: 50, SEQ ID NO: 52, SEQ ID NO: 54, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, SEQ ID NO: 73 SEQ ID NO: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 81; and

ii) optionally isolating the alcohol from the cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Amino acid sequence alignment of the N-terminal region of the different CYP71AV8 variants: CYP71AV8_wt (SEQ ID NO: 2), cyp71AV8-65188 (SEQ ID NO: 4), CYP71AV8-P2 (SEQ ID NO: 6), CYP71AV8-P20 (SEQ ID NO: 8).

FIG. 2A-D. Alignment of DNA sequences of the different CYP71AV8 variants: CYP71AV8_wt (SEQ ID NO: 1), cyp71AV8-65188 (SEQ ID NO: 3), CYP71AV8-P2 (SEQ ID NO: 5), CYP71AV8-P20 (SEQ ID NO: 6). The encoded amino acid sequences are shown below each sequence using the one-letter code.

FIG. 3. GCMS analysis of the conversion of sesquiterpenes by E. coli cells expressing the CYP71AV8 and the CPRm proteins. A, Bioconversion of (+)-alpha-santalene. B, Bioconversion of a (+)-alpha-santalene/(−)-beta-santalene mixture.

FIG. 4. Organisation of the synthetic bi-cistronic operon containing a P450 and a CPR cDNA.

FIG. 5. Comparison of the bioconversion of (+)-α-santalene and the α/β-santalene mixture by E. coli cells transformed with different bi-cistronic operons composed of a P450 and a CPR cDNA. 1, CYP71AV8-65188 and aaCPR. 2, CYP71AV8-P2 and aaCPR. 3, CYP71AV8-P2O and aaCPR. 4, CYP71AV8-65188 and CPRm. 5, CYP71AV8-P2 and CPRm. 6, CYP71AV8-P2O and CPRm.

FIG. 6. GCMS analysis of the sesquiterpene molecules produced by E. coli cells expressing CYP71AV8, CPRm, an alpha-santalene synthase (A) or a alpha-santalene/beta-santalene synthase (B), and mevalonate pathway enzymes. 1, (+)-α-santalene; 2 (−)-α-trans-bergamotene; 3, (+)-epi-β-santalene; 4, (−)-β-santalene.

FIG. 7. Oxidation of (+)-α-santalene by CYP71AV8 wild type (A) and mutant L-358 (B). GC-MS profiles of the sesquiterpene products generated by E. coli KRX cells expressing CPRm, ClASS, the mevalonate pathway enzymes and CYP71AV8 (A) or CYP71AV8-L358F (B). The cultivations were performed in TB medium containing 3% glycerol as carbon source. The different products were identified as α-santalene (1), (E)-α-santalal (2), (Z)-α-santalol (4), and (E)-α-santalol (3).

FIG. 8. GC-MS profiles of the sesquiterpene products generated by E. coli KRX cells expressing CPRm, SaSAS, the mevalonate pathway enzymes and CYP71AV8-L358F. The cultivations were performed in TB medium containing 3% glycerol as carbon source. The different products identified by their mass spectra are indicated.

FIG. 9. GCMS analysis of the conversion of (+)-α-santalene by E. coli cells expressing the CYP71AV1 and the CPRm proteins.

FIG. 10: GC analysis of the in vivo conversion of (+)-α-santalene to (Z)-α-santalol by a P450-BM3 double-mutant (variant #17). Solvent extracts of cultures of recombinant E. coli cells co-expressing a Clausena lansium α-santalene synthase and either the wild-type P450-BM3 (A) or the P450-BM3 variant #17 (B) were analyzed as described in example 11.1, (+)-α-santalene; 2, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene; 3, (Z)-α-santalol; The chromatograms are shown in selected ion mode (M/Z 93).

FIG. 11: GC analysis of the in vivo conversion of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene by a P450-BM3 double-mutant. Solvent extracts of cultures of recombinant E. coli cells co-expressing an alpha-santalene/beta-santalene synthase from Santalum album and either the wild-type P450-BM3 (A) or the P450-BM3 variant #17 (B) were analyzed as described in example 11.1, (+)-α-santalene; 2, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene; 3, (+)-epi-β-santalene; 4, (−)-β-santalene; 5, (Z)-α-santalol; 6, (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol; 7, (Z)-epi-β-santalol; 8, (Z)-β-santalol. The chromatograms are shown in selected ion (M/Z 93).

FIG. 12: GCMS analysis of the conversion of (+)-α-santalene by the recombinant SaCP816 enzyme. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP816 protein. C. Sandalwood oil for comparison of the retention times. All assays were performed in-vitro as described in example 4. 1, (+)-α-santalene; 5, (Z)-α-santalol; 6, (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol; 7, (Z)-epi-β-santalol; 8, (Z)-β-santalol. The identity of the sequiterpene molecules were confirmed by matching of the mass spectra with authentic standards.

FIG. 13: GCMS analysis of the conversion of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene by the recombinant SaCP816 enzyme. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP816 protein. C. Sandalwood oil for comparison of the retention times. All assays were performed in-vitro as described in example 4. 1, (+)-α-santalene; 2, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene; 3, (+)-epi-β-santalene; 4, (−)-β-santalene; 5, (Z)-α-santalol; 6, (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol; 7, (Z)-epi-β-santalol; 8, (Z)-β-santalol. The identity of the sequiterpene molecules were confirmed by matching of the mass spectra with authentic standards.

FIG. 14: GCMS analysis of the molecules produced by E. coli engineered to produced sesquiterpenes and expressing SaCP816, CPRm, an alpha-santalene synthase (ClASS) (A) or a alpha-santalene/beta-santalene synthase (SaSAS) (B). 1, (+)-α-santalene; 2, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene; 3, (+)-epi-β-santalene; 4, (−)-β-santalene; 5, (Z)-α-santalol; 6, (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol; 7, (Z)-epi-β-santalol; 8, (Z)-β-santalol (co-eluted with farnesol produced from an excess pool of farnesyl diphosphate). The identity of the sequiterpene molecules were confirmed by matching of the mass spectra with authentic standards.

FIG. 15: GCMS analysis of the conversion of (+)-α-santalene (21) by the recombinant SaCP10374 P450 enzyme. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP10374 protein. The numbers indicated on the chromatograms refer to the structures presented in FIG. 27.

FIG. 16: GCMS analysis of the conversion of a mixture composed of (+)-α-santalene (21), (−)-α-trans-bergamotene (17); (+)-epi-β-santalene and (−)-β-santalene (25) (prepared using the SaTp8201 recombinant protein, example 4) by the recombinant SaCP10374 P450s enzymes. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP10374 protein. The numbers indicated on the chromatograms refer to the structures presented in FIG. 27.

FIG. 17: GCMS analysis of the conversion of β-farnesene (1) by the recombinant S. album P450s enzymes. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP10374 protein. C. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP816 protein. The numbers indicated on the chromatograms refer to the structures presented in FIG. 27.

FIG. 18: GCMS analysis of the conversion of α-farnesene (5) by the recombinant S. album P450s enzymes. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP10374 protein. C. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP816 protein. The numbers indicated on the chromatograms refer to the structures presented in FIG. 27.

FIG. 19: GCMS analysis of the conversion of (−)-sesquisabinene B (9) by the recombinant S. album P450s enzymes. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP10374 protein. C. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP816 protein. The numbers indicated on the chromatograms refer to the structures presented in FIG. 27.

FIG. 20: GCMS analysis of the conversion of (−)-β-bisabolene (13) by the recombinant S. album P450s enzymes. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP10374 protein. C. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP816 protein. The numbers indicated on the chromatograms refer to the structures presented in FIG. 27.

FIG. 21: GCMS analysis of the conversion of (−)-α-bergamotene (17) by the recombinant S. album P450s enzymes. A. Control without the recombinant P450 enzyme. B. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP10374 protein. C. Assay with E. coli crude protein extract containing the recombinant SaCP816 protein. The numbers indicated on the chromatograms refer to the structures presented in FIG. 27.

FIG. 22: GCMS analysis of the products generated in-vivo as described in example 23 by E. coli KRX cells transformed with the plasmids pACYC-29258-4506 and the plasmid pD444-SR-AaBFS (A), SaCP10374-CPRm-AaBFS-pCWori (B), or SaCP816-CPRm-AaBFS-pCWori (C). The chromatograms show the formation of (E)-β-farnesene (1) as well as oxidized derivatives (2-3) (see FIG. 27 for corresponding structures).

FIG. 23: GCMS analysis of the products generated in-vivo as described in example 23 by E. coli KRX cells transformed with the plasmids pACYC-29258-4506 and the plasmid pD444-SR-PaBAFS (A), SaCP10374-CPRm-PaAFS-pCWori (B), or SaCP816-CPRm-PaAFS-pCWori (C). The chromatograms show the formation of (E,E)-α-farnesene (5) as well as oxidized derivatives (6-8) (see FIG. 27 for corresponding structures). The peak of farnesol resulting from the hydrolysis of excess FPP is inducated on each chromatogram.

FIG. 24: GCMS analysis of the products generated in-vivo as described in example 23 by E. coli KRX cells transformed with the plasmids pACYC-29258-4506 and the plasmid pETDuet-SaTps647 (A), SaCP10374-CPRm-SaTps647-pCWori (B), or SaCP816-CPRm-SaTPS647-pCWori(C). The chromatograms show the formation of (−)-sesquisabinene B (9) as well as oxidized derivatives (10-12) (see FIG. 27 for corresponding structures).

FIG. 25: GCMS analysis of the products generated in-vivo as described in example 23 by E. coli KRX cells transformed with the plasmids pACYC-29258-4506 and the plasmid pETDuet-ClTps2 (A) or SaCP10374-CPRm-ClTps2-pCWori (B). The chromatograms show the formation of (+)-α-santalene (21) as well as oxidized derivatives (23-24) (see FIG. 27 for corresponding structures).

FIG. 26: GCMS analysis of the products generated in-vivo as described in example 23 by E. coli KRX cells transformed with the plasmids pACYC-29258-4506 and the plasmid pETDuet-SaTps8201 (A) or SaCP10374-CPRm-SaTps8201-pCWori (B). The chromatograms show the formation of (+)-α-santalene (21), (−)-β-santalene (25) and (−)-trans-α-Bergamotene (17) as well as oxidized derivatives (19, 20, 23, 24, 27 and 28) (see FIG. 27 for corresponding structures).

FIG. 27A-B: Structure of the enzymes substrates and products discussed in the text.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, and lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 2. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing a α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 4. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 6. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 8. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 28. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 30. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 32. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 34. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 36. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 38. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 40. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 42. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 44. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 50. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 52. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 54. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 58. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO:60. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 62. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 64. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 66. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 68. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 71. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 73. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 79. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

In some embodiments, provided herein is a method of producing α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting α-farnesene, β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene and/or epi-β-santalene, with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to SEQ ID NO: 81. In a particular embodiment, the method comprises a cell that expresses the polypeptide.

The nucleotide sequences provided herein for producing a polypeptide for use in producing an alcohol have a nucleic acid sequence at least, or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 98% to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO: 37, SEQ ID NO: 39, SEQ ID NO: 41, SEQ ID NO: 43, SEQ ID NO: 49, SEQ ID NO: 51, SEQ ID NO: 53, SEQ ID NO: 57, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 61, SEQ ID NO: 63, SEQ ID NO: 65, SEQ ID NO: 67, SEQ ID NO: 70 SEQ ID NO: 72, SEQ ID NO: 78 and SEQ ID NO: 80. The nucleotide sequences provided herein are heterologous in that they are not typically or normally produced by a cell in which it is expressed herein and is generally not endogenous to the cell into which it is introduced—it being typically obtained from another cell or could be made synthetically.

In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol, and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting trans-α-farnesene trans β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene, epi-β-santalene, and/or β-bisabolene with a polypeptide having a P450 monoxygenase activity wherein the alcohol produced comprises at least, or at least about, 36%, of a cis isomer and wherein the polpeptide e comprises an amino acid sequence having at least or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 64, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73.

In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol, and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting trans-α-farnesene trans β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene, epi-β-santalene, and/or β-bisabolene with a polypeptide having a P450 monoxygenase activity wherein the alcohol produced comprises at least, or at least about, 46%, of a cis isomer and wherein the polpeptide e comprises an amino acid sequence having at least or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 66, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73.

In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol, and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting trans-α-farnesene trans β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene, epi-β-santalene, and/or β-bisabolene with a polypeptide having a P450 monoxygenase activity wherein the alcohol produced comprises at least, or at least about, 50%, of a cis isomer and wherein the polpeptide e comprises an amino acid sequence having at least or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73.

In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol, and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting trans-α-farnesene trans β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene, epi-β-santalene, and/or β-bisabolene with a polypeptide having a P450 monoxygenase activity wherein the alcohol produced comprises at least, or at least about, 72%, of a cis isomer and wherein the polpeptide e comprises an amino acid sequence having at least or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 58, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 62, SEQ ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73.

In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol, and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting trans-α-farnesene trans β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene, epi-β-santalene, and/or β-bisabolene with a polypeptide having a P450 monoxygenase activity wherein the alcohol produced comprises at least, or at least about, 96%, of a cis isomer and wherein the polpeptide e comprises an amino acid sequence having at least or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of ID NO: 68, SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73.

In another embodiment, provided herein is a method of producing a sesquiterpene alcohol comprising α-sinensol, β-sinensol, α-santalol, β-santalol, α-trans-bergamotol, epi-β-santalol, lancelol, and/or mixtures thereof comprising contacting trans-α-farnesene trans β-farnesene, α-santalene, β-santalene, α-trans-bergamotene, epi-β-santalene, and/or β-bisabolene with a polypeptide having a P450 monoxygenase activity wherein the alcohol produced comprises at least, or at least about, 100%, of a cis isomer and wherein the polpeptide e comprises an amino acid sequence having at least or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identify to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 71, and 73.

Provided herein is also an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: i) a nucleic acid having an nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting SEQ ID. NO: 70 and 72; and ii) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide having p450 monooxygenase activity wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least, or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% or more identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73. More particularly the polypeptide encoded has the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73.

Provided herein is also an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: i) a nucleic acid having an nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting SEQ ID. NO: 78 and 80; and ii) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide having p450 monooxygenase activity wherein the polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least, or at least about 45%, 50%, 55%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% or more identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 82. More particularly the polypeptide encoded has the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 82.

Also provided herein is an isolated nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of: i) a nucleic acid having an nucleic acid sequence selected from the group consisting SEQ ID. NO: 27, 29, 31, 33, and 35; and ii) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes a polypeptide having p450 monooxygenase activity wherein the polypeptide has the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 34, SEQ ID NO: 36.

In another embodiment provided herein is a method for producing a polypeptide having P450 monoxygenase activity comprising the steps of transforming a host cell or non-human organism with a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identity to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73 and culturing the host cell or organism under conditions that allow for the production of the polypeptide.

In a further embodiment provided here is a method for producing a polypeptide having P450 monoxygenase activity comprising the steps of transforming a host cell or non-human organism with a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 71, and SEQ ID NO: 73 and culturing the host cell or organism under conditions that allow for the production of the polypeptide.

In another embodiment provided herein is a method for producing a polypeptide having P450 monoxygenase activity comprising the steps of transforming a host cell or non-human organism with a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least, or at least about, 45%, 50%, 55%, 50%, 65%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, or 98% sequence identity to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 81 and culturing the host cell or organism under conditions that allow for the production of the polypeptide.

In a further embodiment provided here is a method for producing a polypeptide having P450 monoxygenase activity comprising the steps of transforming a host cell or non-human organism with a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 79, and SEQ ID NO: 81 and culturing the host cell or organism under conditions that allow for the production of the polypeptide.

The alcohols can be converted to aldehydes or acids such as but not limited to sinensals, santalals, bergamotenals, and lanceals. The alcohols, aldehydes or acids can be further converted to derivatives such as, but not limited to esters, amides, glycosides, ethers or acetals.

Nucleic acid and polypeptides described herein may be isolated for example from Cichorium intybus L., Bacillus megaterium, Santalum album and Artemisia annua. CYP71AV8, P450-BM3 (CYP102A1), and CYP71AV1 including variants are described herein.

CYP71AV8 from the plant Cichorium intybus L. was previously characterized as a P450 mono-oxygenase able to oxidize region-selectively (+)-valencene producing trans-nootkatol, cis-nootkatol and (+)-nootkatone. CYP71AV8 was also found to catalyse the oxidation of germacrene A and amorpha-4,11-diene in the C-12 position (Cankar et al, FEBS Lett. 585(1), 178-182 (2011)). The amino acid sequence of the wild type enzyme (NCBI accession No ADM86719.1, SEQ ID No 1 and 2) was used to design a cDNA sequence optimized for expression in E. coli.

In eukaryotes, the P450 monooxygenases are membrane-bound proteins and the N-terminal sequence of these proteins constitute a membrane anchor essential for the membrane localization of these enzymes. This part of the protein, usually delimited by a proline-rich domaine, is not essential for the control of the specificity of the enzymatic activity. This region can thus be modified by deletion, insertion or mutation without effect on the catalytic activity. However, specific modification of the N-terminal region of eukaryotic P450s, including plant P450s, have been shown to have a positive effect on the levels of functional recombinant proteins when expressed in microorganisms (Halkier et al (1995) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 322, 369-377; Haudenschield et al (2000) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 379, 127-136).

In P450 monooxygenases the recognition and binding of the substrate is controlled by several amino acid residues distributed in different regions along the protein amino acid sequences. These regions, defined as substrate recognition sites (SRS), can be localized in the amino acid sequence of any P450 by simple sequence alignment based for example on the work made by Gotoh (Gotoh O (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267(1), 83-90). Thus residues in the CYP71AV8 protein that interact with the substrate and can influence the regioselectivity of the hydroxylation reaction are the amino acids Asn98 to Gly121, Thr198 to Leu205, Lys232 to Ile 240, Asn282 to Ala300, His355 to Arg367 and Thr469 to Val 476. The modification of one or more residues in these regions can potentially alter the substrate specificity, the stereochemistry of the reaction or its regioselectivity. One example of alteration of the regioselectivity of the reaction catalyzed by a P450 can be found in Schalk et al (2002) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97(22), 11948-11953. In this publication a single residue change in plant P450 enzymes led to a complete conversion to the regiospecificity of the enzymatique reaction.

A “sesquiterpene synthase” or a “polypeptide having a sesquiterpene synthase activity” is intended for the purpose of the present application as a polypeptide capable of catalyzing the synthesis of a sesquiterpene molecule or of a mixture of sesquiterpene molecules from a acyclic pyrophosphate terpene precursor selected from the group consisting of geranyl-pyrophosphate (GPP), farnesy-diphosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranyl-pyrophosphate (GGPP).

Alpha santalene, beta-santalene, alpha-trans-bergamotene, and/or epi-beta santalene may be prepared using the synthases described for example in U.S. Patent Publication No.: 2011-0008836, published Jan. 13, 20111 and in U.S. Patent Publication No.: 2011-0281257, published Nov. 27, 2011, both of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

According to the present invention, polypeptides are also meant to include truncated polypeptides provided that they keep their P450 monooxygenase activity as defined in any of the above embodiments.

The percentage of identity between two peptidic or nucleotidic sequences is a function of the number of amino acids or nucleotide residues that are identical in the two sequences when an alignment of these two sequences has been generated. Identical residues are defined as residues that are the same in the two sequences in a given position of the alignment. The percentage of sequence identity, as used herein, is calculated from the optimal alignment by taking the number of residues identical between two sequences dividing it by the total number of residues in the shortest sequence and multiplying by 100. The optimal alignment is the alignment in which the percentage of identity is the highest possible. Gaps may be introduced into one or both sequences in one or more positions of the alignment to obtain the optimal alignment. These gaps are then taken into account as non-identical residues for the calculation of the percentage of sequence identity.

Alignment for the purpose of determining the percentage of amino acid or nucleic acid sequence identity can be achieved in various ways using computer programs and for instance publicly available computer programs available on the world wide web. Particularly, the BLAST program (Tatiana et al, FEMS Microbiol Lett., 1999, 174:247-250, 1999) set to the default parameters, available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at their webpage ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST/bl2seq/wblast2.cgi, can be used to obtain an optimal alignment of peptidic or nucleotidic sequences and to calculate the percentage of sequence identity.

A particular organism or cell is meant to be “capable of producing FPP” when it produces FPP naturally or when it does not produce FPP naturally but is transformed to produce FPP, either prior to the transformation with a nucleic acid as described herein or together with said nucleic acid. Organisms or cells transformed to produce a higher amount of FPP than the naturally occurring organism or cell are also encompassed by the “organisms or cells capable of producing FPP”. Methods to transform organisms, for example microorganisms, so that they produce FPP are already known in the art. Such methods can for example be found in the literature, for example in the following publications: Martin, V. J., Pitera, D. J., Withers, S. T., Newman, J. D., and Keasling, J. D. Nat Biotechnol., 2003, 21(7), 796-802 (transformation of E. coli); Wu, S., Schalk, M., Clark, A., Miles, R. B., Coates, R., and Chappell, J., Nat Biotechnol., 2006, 24(11), 1441-1447 (transformation of plants); Takahashi, S., Yeo, Y., Greenhagen, B. T., McMullin, T., Song, L., Maurina-Brunker, J., Rosson, R., Noel, J., Chappell, J, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2007, 97(1), 170-181 (transformation of yeast).

Non-human host organisms suitable to carry out the method described herein in vivo may be any non-human multicellular or unicellular organisms. In a particular embodiment, the non-human host organism used to carry out the invention in vivo is a plant, a prokaryote or a fungus. Any plant, prokaryote or fungus can be used. Particularly useful plants are those that naturally produce high amounts of terpenes. In a more particular embodiment, the plant is selected from the family of Solanaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Asteraceae or Lamiaceae. For example, the plant is selected from the genera Nicotiana, Solanum, Sorghum, Arabidopsis, Brassica (rape), Medicago (alfalfa), Gossypium (cotton), Artemisia, Salvia and Mentha. Particularly, the plant belongs to the species of Nicotiana tabacum.

In a more particular embodiment the non-human host organism used to carry out the method of the invention in vivo is a microorganism. Any microorganism can be used but according to an even more particular embodiment said microorganism is a bacteria or yeast. Most particularly, said bacteria is E. coli and said yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Some of these organisms do not produce FPP naturally. To be suitable to carry out the method of the invention, these organisms have to be transformed to produce said precursor. They can be so transformed either before the modification with the nucleic acid described according to any of the above embodiments or simultaneously, as explained above.

Isolated higher eukaryotic cells can also be used, instead of complete organisms, as hosts to carry out the method of the invention in vivo. Suitable eukaryotic cells may be any non-human cell, but are particularly plant or fungal cells.

As used herein, the polypeptide is intended as a polypeptide or peptide fragment that encompasses the amino acid sequences identified herein, as well as truncated or variant polypeptides, provided that they keep their P450 monooxygenaseactivity as defined above and that they share at least the defined percentage of identity with the corresponding polypeptide.

Examples of variant polypeptides are naturally occurring proteins that result from alternate mRNA splicing events or from proteolytic cleavage of the polypeptides described herein. Variations attributable to proteolysis include, for example, differences in the N- or C-termini upon expression in different types of host cells, due to proteolytic removal of one or more terminal amino acids from the polypeptides of the invention. Polypeptides encoded by a nucleic acid obtained by natural or artificial mutation of a nucleic acid of the invention, as described thereafter, are also encompassed by the invention.

Polypeptide variants resulting from a fusion of additional peptide sequences at the amino and carboxyl terminal ends can also be used in the methods of the invention. In particular such a fusion can enhance expression of the polypeptides, be useful in the purification of the protein or improve the enzymatic activity of the polypeptide in a desired environment or expression system. Such additional peptide sequences may be signal peptides, for example. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses methods using variant polypeptides, such as those obtained by fusion with other oligo- or polypeptides and/or those which are linked to signal peptides. Polypeptides resulting from a fusion with another functional protein, such as another protein from the terpene biosynthesis pathway, can also be advantageously be used in the methods of the invention.

As used herein, the polypeptide is intended as a polypeptide or peptide fragment that encompasses the amino acid sequence identified herein, as well as truncated or variant polypeptides, provided that they keep their activity as defined above. Examples of variant polypeptides are naturally occurring proteins that result from alternate mRNA splicing events or from proteolytic cleavage of the polypeptides described herein. Variations attributable to proteolysis include, for example, differences in the N- or C-termini upon expression in different types of host cells, due to proteolytic removal of one or more terminal amino acids from the polypeptides of the invention. Polypeptides encoded by a nucleic acid obtained by natural or artificial mutation of a nucleic acid of the invention, as described thereafter, are also encompassed by the invention.

Polypeptide variants resulting from a fusion of additional peptide sequences at the amino and carboxyl terminal ends are also encompassed by the polypeptides of the invention. In particular such a fusion can enhance expression of the polypeptides, be useful in the purification of the protein or improve the enzymatic activity of the polypeptide in a desired environment or expression system. Such additional peptide sequences may be signal peptides, for example. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses variants of the polypeptides of the invention, such as those obtained by fusion with other oligo- or polypeptides and/or those which are linked to signal peptides. Polypeptides resulting from a fusion with another functional protein, such as another protein from the terpene biosynthesis pathway, are also encompassed by the polypeptides of the invention.

The nucleic acid of the invention can be defined as including deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide polymers in either single- or double-stranded form (DNA and/or RNA). The terms “nucleotide sequence” should also be understood as comprising a polynucleotide molecule or an oligonucleotide molecule in the form of a separate fragment or as a component of a larger nucleic acid. Nucleic acids of the invention also encompass certain isolated nucleotide sequences including those that are substantially free from contaminating endogenous material. The nucleic acid of the invention may be truncated, provided that it encodes a polypeptide encompassed by the present invention, as described above.

Another important tool for transforming host organisms or cells suitable to carry out the method of the invention in vivo is an expression vector comprising a nucleic acid according to any embodiment of the invention. Such a vector is therefore also an object of the present invention.

An “expression vector” as used herein includes any linear or circular recombinant vector including but not limited to viral vectors, bacteriophages and plasmids. The skilled person is capable of selecting a suitable vector according to the expression system. In one embodiment, the expression vector includes the nucleic acid of the invention operably linked to at least one regulatory sequence, which controls transcription, translation, initiation and termination, such as a transcriptional promoter, operator or enhancer, or an mRNA ribosomal binding site and, optionally, including at least one selection marker. Nucleotide sequences are “operably linked” when the regulatory sequence functionally relates to the nucleic acid of the invention.

The expression vectors of the present invention may be used in the methods for preparing a genetically transformed host organism and/or cell, in host organisms and/or cells harboring the nucleic acids of the invention and in the methods for making polypeptides having a P450 monooxygenase activity, as disclosed further below.

Recombinant non-human host organisms and cells transformed to harbor at least one nucleic acid of the invention so that it heterologously expresses or over-expresses at least one polypeptide of the invention are also very useful tools to carry out the method of the invention. Such non-human host organisms and cells are therefore another object of the present invention.

A nucleic acid according to any of the above-described embodiments can be used to transform the non-human host organisms and cells and the expressed polypeptide can be any of the above-described polypeptides.

Non-human host organisms of the invention may be any non-human multicellular or unicellular organisms. In a particular embodiment, the non-human host organism is a plant, a prokaryote or a fungus. Any plant, prokaryote or fungus is suitable to be transformed according to the present invention. Particularly useful plants are those that naturally produce high amounts of terpenes. In a more particular embodiment, the plant is selected from the family of Solanaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Asteraceae or Lamiaceae. For example, the plant is selected from the genera Nicotiana, Solanum, Sorghum, Arabidopsis, Brassica (rape), Medicago (alfalfa), Gossypium (cotton), Artemisia, Salvia and Mentha. Particularly, the plant belongs to the species of Nicotiana tabacum.

In a more particular embodiment the non-human host organism is a microorganism. Any microorganism is suitable for the present invention, but according to an even more particular embodiment said microorganism is a bacteria or yeast. Most particularly, said bacteria is E. coli and said yeast is Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Isolated higher eukaryotic cells can also be transformed, instead of complete organisms. As higher eukaryotic cells, we mean here any non-human eukaryotic cell except yeast cells. Particular higher eukaryotic cells are plant cells or fungal cells.

The term “transformed” refers to the fact that the host was subjected to genetic engineering to comprise one, two or more copies of each of the nucleic acids required in any of the above-described embodiment. Particularly the term “transformed” relates to hosts heterologously expressing the polypeptides encoded by the nucleic acid with which they are transformed, as well as over-expressing said polypeptides. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the present invention provides a transformed organism, in which the polypeptides are expressed in higher quantity than in the same organism not so transformed.

There are several methods known in the art for the creation of transgenic host organisms or cells such as plants, fungi, prokaryotes, or cultures of higher eukaryotic cells. Appropriate cloning and expression vectors for use with bacterial, fungal, yeast, plant and mammalian cellular hosts are described, for example, in Pouwels et al., Cloning Vectors: A Laboratory Manual, 1985, Elsevier, New York and Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2^(nd) edition, 1989, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Cloning and expression vectors for higher plants and/or plant cells in particular are available to the skilled person. See for example Schardl et al. Gene 61: 1-11, 1987.

Methods for transforming host organisms or cells to harbor transgenic nucleic acids are familiar to the skilled person. For the creation of transgenic plants, for example, current methods include: electroporation of plant protoplasts, liposome-mediated transformation, agrobacterium-mediated transformation, polyethylene-glycol-mediated transformation, particle bombardment, microinjection of plant cells, and transformation using viruses.

In one embodiment, transformed DNA is integrated into a chromosome of a non-human host organism and/or cell such that a stable recombinant system results. Any chromosomal integration method known in the art may be used in the practice of the invention, including but not limited to recombinase-mediated cassette exchange (RMCE), viral site-specific chromosomal insertion, adenovirus and pronuclear injection.

A “polypeptide variant” as referred to herein means a polypeptide having the above described activity and being substantially homologous to the polypeptide according to any of the above embodiments, but having an amino acid sequence different from that encoded by any of the nucleic acid sequences of the invention because of one or more deletions, insertions or substitutions.

Variants can comprise conservatively substituted sequences, meaning that a given amino acid residue is replaced by a residue having similar physiochemical characteristics. Examples of conservative substitutions include substitution of one aliphatic residue for another, such as Ile, Val, Leu, or Ala for one another, or substitutions of one polar residue for another, such as between Lys and Arg; Glu and Asp; or Gln and Asn. See Zubay, Biochemistry, 1983, Addison-Wesley Pub. Co. The effects of such substitutions can be calculated using substitution score matrices such a PAM-120, PAM-200, and PAM-250 as discussed in Altschul, J. Mol. Biol., 1991, 219, 555-565. Other such conservative substitutions, for example substitutions of entire regions having similar hydrophobicity characteristics, are well known.

Naturally occurring peptide variants are also encompassed by the invention. Examples of such variants are proteins that result from alternate mRNA splicing events or from proteolytic cleavage of the polypeptides described herein. Variations attributable to proteolysis include, for example, differences in the N- or C-termini upon expression in different types of host cells, due to proteolytic removal of one or more terminal amino acid from the polypeptides encoded by the sequences of the invention.

Variants of the polypeptides of the invention may be used to attain for example desired enhanced or reduced enzymatic activity, modified regiochemistry or stereochemistry, or altered substrate utilization or product distribution, increased affinity for the substrate, improved specificity for the production of one or more desired compounds, increased velocity of the enzyme reaction, higher activity or stability in a specific environment (pH, temperature, solvent, etc), or improved expression level in a desired expression system. A variant or site directed mutant may be made by any method known in the art. Variants and derivatives of native polypeptides can be obtained by isolating naturally-occurring variants, or the nucleotide sequence of variants, of other or same plant lines or species, for examples plants from the Santalum species, or by artificially programming mutations of nucleotide sequences coding for the polypeptides of the invention. Alterations of the native amino acid sequence can be accomplished by any of a number of conventional methods.

Polypeptide variants resulting from a fusion of additional peptide sequences at the amino and carboxyl terminal ends of the polypeptides of the invention can be used to enhance expression of the polypeptides, be useful in the purification of the protein or improve the enzymatic activity of the polypeptide in a desired environment or expression system. Such additional peptide sequences may be signal peptides, for example. Accordingly, the present invention encompasses variants of the polypeptides of the invention, such as those obtained by fusion with other oligo- or polypeptides and/or those which are linked to signal peptides. Fusion polypeptide encompassed by the invention also comprise fusion polypeptides resulting from a fusion of other functional proteins, such as other proteins from the terpene biosynthesis pathway.

The alcohols produced herein may be isolated by extraction for example using known methods to extract the alcohols generated in nature (e.g., extraction from Sandalwood). The alcohols produced herein have use as fragrant compounds that may be used in perfumery.

ABBREVIATIONS USED

-   aaCPR Arthemisia annua Cytochrome P450 reductase -   bp base pair -   kb kilo base -   DNA deoxyribonucleic acid -   cDNA complementary DNA -   ClASS Clausena lansium (+)-α-santalene synthase -   CPRm Mentha piperita Cytochrome P450 reductase -   DTT dithiothreitol -   EDTA ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid -   FPP farnesyl pyrophosphate -   GC gaseous chromatograph -   IPTG isopropyl-D-thiogalacto-pyranoside -   LB lysogeny broth -   MS mass spectrometer -   MTBE methyl tert-buthyl ether -   PCR polymerase chain reaction -   RMCE recombinase-mediated cassette exchange -   RNA ribonucleic acid -   mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid -   SaSAS Santalum album (+)-α-santalene/(⊕)-β-santalene synthase

The following examples are illustrative only and are not meant to limit the scope of invention as set forth in the Summary, Description or in the Claims.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Optimization of the CYP71AV8 cDNA Sequence for Expression in Bacteria

The membrane anchor region of CYP71AV8 was redesigned to introduce the modifications detailed bellow.

In the optimized CYP71AV8 sequences the 5′-end was modified to replace the first amino acids of the membrane anchor region with a peptide sequence shown to improve the heterologous expression of membrane-bound P450s in bacterial cells (Alkier, B. A. et al. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 322, 369-377 (1995), Haudenschield, et al Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 379, 127-136 (2000)). In addition, for the entire cDNA, the codon usage was adapted to match the E. coli codon usage. Thus, several cDNA were designed for CYP71AV8 with different 3′-end modifications and optimizations:

-   -   CYP71AV8-65188: in this construct the 22 first codons were         replaced by a sequence coding for the MALLLAVFWSALIILV peptide         (SEQ ID NO 3 and 4).     -   CYP71AV8-P2: the entire anchor-encoding sequence was replaced by         the anchor sequence of an optimized limonene-hydroxylase from         mint (PM2 in Haudenschield, et al Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 379,         127-136 (2000)) (SEQ ID NO 5 and 6).     -   CYP71AV8-P2O: this construct encodes for the same protein as the         previous one but the membrane anchor region was further codon         optimize (SEQ ID NO 7 and 8).         The FIG. 1 compares the amino acid sequences of the N-terminal         regions of the different CYP71AV8 variants and FIG. 2 compares         the DNA sequences of the 3 constructs. The three optimized         CYP71AV8 cDNAs were synthesized in-vitro (DNA2.0, Menlo Park,         Calif., USA) and cloned as NdeI-HindIII fragment into the         pCWori+ expression plasmid (Barnes, H. J. Method Enzymol. 272,         3-14; (1996)).

Example 2 Functional Expression of CYP71AV8 in Bacterial Cells

For heterologous expression, the JM109 E. coli cells were transformed with the CYP71AV8 expression plasmids (example 1). Single colonies of transformants were used to inoculated cultures of 5 mL LB medium containing 50 μg/mL ampicillin. The cells are grown for 10 to 12 hours at 37° C. The cultures were then used to inoculate 250 mL TB Medium (Terrific Broth) supplemented with 50 μg/mL ampicillin and 1 mM Thiamine HCL. The cultures were incubated at 28° C. for 3-4 h with moderate shaking (200 rpm) before 75 mg/L δ-aminolevulinic acid (sigma) and 1 mM IPTG (Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) was added, and the cultures were maintained at 28° C. for 24-48 h with 200 rpm shaking.

The expression of the P450 enzymes can be evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by measuring the CO-binding spectrum (Omura, T. & Sato, R. (1964) J. Biol. Chem. 239, 2379-2387) in the E. coli protein fractions. For protein extraction, the cells are centrifuged (10 min, 5000 g, 4° C.) and resuspended in 35 mL ice-cold buffer 1 (100 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 20% glycerol, 0.5 mM EDTA). One volume of 0.3 mg/ml lysozyme (Sigma-Aldrich) in water was added and the suspension left 10-15 min at 4° C. with agitation. The suspension is centrifuged 10 min at 7000 g and 4° C. and the pellet is resuspended in 20 mL buffer 2 (25 mM KPO₄ pH 7.4, 0.1 mM EDTA, 0.1 mM DTT, 20% glycerol). The suspension is subject to one cycle of freeze-thaw at −80° C., 0.5 mM PMSF (phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, Sigma-Aldrich) is added and the suspension is sonicated 3 times for 20 sec. The suspension is centrifuged 10 min at 10000 g (to remove cell debris) and the supernatant is recovered and centrifuged 2 hours at 100,000 g. The pellet (membrane protein fraction) is resuspended in 2-3 ml of buffer 3 (50 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 1 mM EDTA, 20% glycerol). To measure the CO-spectrum, the protein fraction is diluted (1/10) in buffer 3 to a final volume of 2 mL. Some crystals of sodium dithionite (Na₂S₂O₄) are added, the sample is divided into two cuvettes and the baseline recorded between 370 and 500 nm. The sample cuvette is then saturated with carbon monoxide and the difference spectrum is recorded. The concentration of P450 enzyme can be estimated from the amplitude of the peak at 450 nm using the extension coefficient for the reduced CO complex of 91 mM⁻¹•cm⁻¹ (Omura, T. & Sato, R. (1964) J. Biol. Chem. 239, 2379-2387).

Following this procedure, typical CO-spectra with a maximum absorbance at 450 nm were measured for the recombinant CYP71AV8, attesting for a proper folding into functional P450 enzymes.

Example 3 Co-Expression of CYP71AV8 and a P450-Reductase in Bacteria

To reconstitute the activity of plant P450s, the presence of a second membrane protein is essential. This protein, the P450-reductase (CPR), is involved in the transfer of electrons from the cofactor NADPH (reduced Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) to the P450 active site. It has been shown that a CPR from one plant can complement the activity of P450 enzyme from another plant (Jensen and Moller (2010) Phytochemsitry 71, 132-141). Several CPR-encoding DNA sequences have been reported from different plant sources. We first selected a CPR previously isolated from Mentha piperita (CPRm, unpublished data, SEQ ID NO 10), optimized the codon usage of the full-length cDNA (SEQ ID No 9) and cloned it into the NcoI and HindIII restriction sites of the pACYCDuet-1 expression plasmid (Novagen) providing the plasmid pACYC-CPRm.

CYP71AV8 and CPRm were co-expressed in E. coli cells using the two plasmids pCWori-CYP71AV8-65188 and pACYCDuet-CPRm. BL21 Star™(DE3) E. coli cells (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) were co-transformed with these two plasmids. Transformed cells were selected on carbenicillin (50 μg/ml) and chloramphenicol (34 μg/ml) LB-agarose plates. Single colonies were used to inoculate 5 mL liquid LB medium supplemented with the same antibiotics. The culture was incubated overnight at 37° C. The next day, 2 to 250 mL of TB medium supplemented with the same antibiotics were inoculated with 0.2 to 2 mL of the overnight culture. After 6 hours incubation at 37° C., the culture was cooled down to 28° C. and 1 mM IPTG and 75 mg/L δ-aminolevulinic acid were added. After 16 to 24 hours, the cells were harvested in exponential growing phase, centrifuged and resuspended in 0.5 volume of potassium phosphate buffer 50 mM pH 7.0 supplemented with 5% glycerol or 3% glucose. These cells were used for evaluation of the enzymatic activities of the P450 enzymes.

Example 4 Bioconversion of (+)-α-Santalene, (−)-β-Santalene, (−)-α-Trans-Bergamotene and (+)-Epi-β-Santalene Using E. coli Cells Expressing CYP71AV8

The different sequiterpene hydrocarbons used as substrates in the bioconversion assays were prepared as described previously using E. coli cells engineered to produced farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) from an heterologous mevalonate pathway and expressing a plant derived sesquiterpene synthase. The engineering and use of the E. coli host cells was described in patent WO2013064411 or in Schalk et al (2013) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 134, 18900-18903. Briefly, an expression plasmid was prepared containing two operons composed of the genes encoding the enzymes for a complete mevalonate pathway. A first synthetic operon consisting of an E. coli acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (atoB), a Staphylococcus aureus HMG-CoA synthase (mvaS), a Staphylococcus aureus HMG-CoA reductase (mvaA) and a Saccharomyces cerevisiae FPP synthase (ERG20) genes was synthetized in-vitro (DNA2.0, Menlo Park, Calif., USA) and ligated into the NcoI-BamHI digested pACYCDuet-1 vector (Invitrogen) yielding pACYC-29258. A second operon containing a mevalonate kinase (MvaK1), a phosphomevalonate kinase (MvaK2), a mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (MvaD), and an isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase (idi) was amplified from genomic DNA of Streptococcus pneumoniae (ATCC BAA-334) and ligated into the second multicloning site of pACYC-29258 providing the plasmid pACYC-29258-4506. This plasmid thus contains the genes encoding all enzymes of the biosynthetic pathway leading from acetyl-coenzyme A to FPP. E. coli cells (BL21 Star™(DE3), Invitrogen) were co-transformed with the plasmid pACYC-29258-4506 and either the plasmid pET101-Cont2_1 (containing a cDNA encoding for the Clausena lansium (+)-α-santalene synthase (ClASS), WO2009109597) or the plasmid pETDuet-SCH10-Tps8201-opt (containing a cDNA encoding for a Santalum album (+)-α-santalene/(−)-β-santalene synthase (SaSAS), WO2010067309) and this cells were used to produce and purify (+)-α-santalene or a mixture of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene.

The enzymatic activity of CYP71AV8 was evaluated by bioconversion in E. coli cells using the sesquiterpene molecules listed above as substrates. BL21 Star™(DE3) E. coli cells (Invitrogen) transformed with the plasmids pACYCDuet-CPRm and pCWori-CYP71AV8-65188 were cultivated and harvested as described in example 3. The substrates (sesquiterpene hydrocarbons) were added to the cell suspension to a final concentration of 0.5 mg/ml as mixture composed of 10 mg Tween® 20 (sigma-Aldrich), 10 mg antifoam (Erol DF, PMC Ouvrie, Lesquin, France), 20 mg sesquiterpene and 1 ml water. The conversion was allowed to proceed for 24 hours at 20° C. with moderate shaking. The media were extracted with 2 volumes of MTBE (Methyl tert-buthyl ether, Sigma) and the extracts were analyzed by GCMS on an Agilent 6890 Series GC system connected to an Agilent 5975 mass detector. The GC was equipped with 0.25 mm inner diameter by 30 m SPB-1 capillary column (Supelco, Bellefonte, Pa.). The carrier gas was He at a constant flow of 1 mL/min. The initial oven temperature was 80° C. (1 min hold) followed by a gradient of 10° C./min to 300° C. The identification of the products was based on the comparison of the mass spectra and retention indices with authentic standards and internal databases.

In these conditions, oxidation of (+)-α-santalene was observed. The primary product of the conversion was (E)-α-santalol. Other products derived from the conversion of (E)-α-santalol by E. coli endogenous enzymes were detected: (E)-α-santalal (produced by an alcohol dehydrogenase) and (E)-α-dihydrosantalol (produced by an enoate reductase) (FIG. 3A). Similarly, using a mixture of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene as substrate the formation of (E)-α-santalol, (E)-β-santalol, (E)-α-trans-bergamotol and (E)-epi-β-santalol was observed as well as further metabolized products were obtained (FIG. 3B). This example shows that CYP71AV8 can be used for the terminal oxidation of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, and structurally similar molecules.

Example 5 Construction of Synthetic Operons to Co-Express CYP71AV8 and a CPR from a Single Plasmid

Several bicistronic operons were designed to express the P450 enzyme and a CPR from a single plasmid and under the control of a unique promoter. The three variants of optimized CYP71AV8 cDNAs (example 1) were combined with 2 CPR cDNAs: the codon optimized CPRm cDNA (example 2) and a codon optimized cDNA (Seq ID No 11) encoding for an Artemisia annua CPR (NCBI accession No. ABM88789.1, SEQ ID No 12). Thus, six constructs were designed (Seq ID No 13-18), each containing a P450 cDNA followed by a linker sequence including a ribosome binding site (RBS) and a CPR cDNA (FIG. 4). This constructs were prepared by PCR: the P450 and CPR cDNAs were amplified separately and with 5′ and 3′ overhangs suitable for the cloning using the In-Fusion® procedure (Clontech) in the NdeI-HindIII sites of the pCWori+ plasmid.

To evaluate the effect of the different N-terminal modification made on the P450s and the coupling with the CPRs, the 6 plasmids were transferred into E. coli BL21 Star™(DE3) cells and the recombinant cells were used in bio-conversion assays as described in example 4. The (+)-α-santalene and the (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene mixture were used as substrates and quantities of total oxygenated sesquiterpene products were evaluated. The results presented in FIG. 5 show that all recombinant bacterial cells transformed with one of the 6 plasmids described above can be used for the oxidation of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene and the structurally similar molecules. The highest titer was obtained with the operon combining the CYP71AV8-P2O cDNA and the CPRm cDNA. This construct (plasmid pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2O-CPRm) was used for further experiments.

Example 6 In-Vivo Production of Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes in Engineered Cells

The oxidized products of (+)-α-santalene and the (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene, (+)-epi-β-santalene or other structurally similar molecules can also be produced directly in E. coli cells engineered to produce sesquiterpenes from a carbon source such as glucose or glycerol. Plasmids were prepared consisting of the pCWori+ plasmid (Barnes H. J (1996) Method Enzymol. 272, 3-14) containing a synthetic operon composed of a P450, a CPR and the terpene synthase. For the P450, the CYP71AV8-P2 or CYP71AV8-P2O cDNA was used and for the terpene synthase, the Clausena lansium (+)-α-santalene synthase cDNA (ClASS) (WO2009109597) or a cDNA encoding for a Santalum album (+)-α-santalene/(−)-β-santalene synthase (SaSAS) (WO2010067309) was used. Four plasmids were thus constructed using the following procedure. A codon optimized version of the ClASS cDNA (SEQ ID NO 19-20) was designed and synthesized (DNA 2.0) and cloned in the NdeI-KpnI sites of the pETDUET-1 plasmid (Novagen) providing the plasmid pETDuet-Tps2opt. For SaSAS an optimized full-length cDNA was designed (SEQ ID NO 21-22), synthesized and cloned in the pJexpress414 plasmid (DNA2.0) providing the plasmid pJ414-SaTps8201-1-FLopt. For each constructs primer were designed for cloning using the In-Fusion® technique (Clontech, Takara Bio Europe). The optimized ClASS cDNA and the optimized SaSAS cDNA were amplified using these primers and the pETDuet-Tps2opt and pJ414-SaTps8201-1-FLopt plasmids as template, respectively. The two PCR products were ligated in the plasmids pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2-CPRm or pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2O-CPRm digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme and using the In-Fusion® Dry-Down PCR Cloning Kit (Clontech, Takara Bio Europe), providing four new plasmids: pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2-CPRm-ClASS, pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2-CPRm-SaSAS, pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2O-CPRm-ClASS, and pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2O-CPRm-SaSAS (SEQ ID NO 23-26).

The evaluation of the performance of these operons was performed in the E. coli BL21 Star™(DE3) (Invitrogen) cells co-transformed with either of the 4 plasmids and with the plasmid pACYC-29258-4506 carrying a complete mevalonate pathway (example 4). Transformed cells were selected on carbenicillin (50 μg/ml) and chloramphenicol (34 μg/ml) LB-agarose plates. Single colonies were used to inoculate 5 mL of LB medium supplemented with appropriate antibiotics. Cultures were incubated overnight at 37° C. and 250 rpm. The next day 2 mL of TB medium in glass culture tubes containing 100 μg/L carbenicilin and 17 μg/L chloramphenicol, were inoculated with 200 μl of the LB pre-culture and incubated at 37° C. and 250 rpm. After 6 hours of cultivation (or when the optical density at 600 nm of the culture reach a value of 3), the culture were cooled down to 20° C. and the expression of the proteins was induced with 0.1 mM IPTG (Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside), and 75 μg/L δ-aminolevulinic acid (sigma) and 2% (v/v) of decane were added. After 48 h incubation with 250 rpm shaking, the whole culture broth was extracted with 1 volume of MTBE and analyzed by GCMS as described in example 4.

All resulting strains produced the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as well as the corresponding oxygenated products also observed in the bioconversion experiments (FIG. 6). This experiment shows that using engineered cells expressing CYP71AV8, the sesquiterpenes (E)-α-santalol, (E)-β-santalol and other structurally similar molecules can be produced.

Example 7 Production of (E)-α-Santalol and (E)-β-Santalol Using CYP71AV8 Variants

In previous examples we showed that CYP71AV8 is highly selective for the ‘terminal trans carbon’ of (+)-α-santalene and (−)-β-santalene and produced exclusively (E)-α-santalol, (E)-β-santalol. In this example, we describe a site directed mutagenesis approach to modify the CYP71AV8 enzyme activity in order to produce (Z)-α-santalol and (Z)-β-santalol. L358 was first selected as an active site residue controlling the enzyme activity. A series of variant of CYP71AV8 were generated by replacing the codon encoding for L358 by codons encoding for other amino acids. The mutation was introduced in a two-step PCR procedure using a combination of degenerated oligonucleotide (containing the NBT (N=A,C,G,T; B=C,G,T) codon in place of L358 encoding codon) and specific oligonucleotides. This combination of oligonucleotides allow to change the L358 encoding codon with codons encoding for 12 other residues including all the amino acids with a hydrophobic side chain. A first PCR was performed to amplify the 5′ portion of the cDNA using the mutagenesis reverse primer AV8-L358-rev (5′-CACGCGGCATCACCAGCGGAVNCGGCGGATGCAGGCGCAGGGTTTCTTTAATC-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 93) and the primer AV8-pcw-fw (5′-CATCGATGCTTAGGAGGTCATATGGCTCTGTTATTAGCAG-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 94). A second PCR product was amplified using the primer AV8-L358-fw (5′-TCCGCTGGTGATGCCGCGTGAGTGC-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 95) and AV8-CPR-rev (5′-ATATATCTCCTTCTTAAAGTTAGTCGACTCATTAGGTG-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 96). For both amplifications the pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2-CPRm-ClASS was use for the template. A second round of amplification was performed using the two above PCR products as template and the primers AV8-L358-fw+AV8-CPR-rev and allowed to amplify the full-length CYP71AV8 variant cDNAs. All the PCR reactions were performed using the PfuUltra II fusion HS DNA polymerase (Stratagene) following the manufacturer instruction. The modified cDNA were ligated into the NdeI-SalI digested pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2-CPRm-ClASS using the Gibson Assembly Master Mix (New England Biolabs). The final constructions were controlled by sequencing and one plasmid clone was selected for each desired CYP71AV8 variant. Twelve variants were thus generated by replacing Leu358 by Ala, Phe, Thr, Ser, Val, Gly, Ile, Met, Pro, Tyr, Trp, and Arg (SEQ ID NO 27 to 50).

The evaluation of each CYP71AV8 variant was performed using the in-vivo sesquiterpene production method described in example 6. Briefly, the pCWori+ plasmid containing one of the CYP71AV8 variant cDNA, the CPRm cDNA and the ClASS cDNA was co-transformed with the pACYC-29258 plasmid into KRX E. coli cells (Promega). The transformed cells were selected, cultivated and the production of sesquiterpenes was evaluated as described in example 6. As shown in FIG. 7, compared to the wild type P450 enzyme, with some of the variants (Z)-α-santalol was produced in addition to the trans oxidation products. For each variant, the ratio of cis to trans oxidation was calculated by dividing the total amount of (Z)-α-santalol produced by the total amount of oxygenated α-santalene derivatives. The results of these calculations for each variants is presented in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Regio-selectivity of the CYP71AV8 wild-type enzyme and active site variants for the oxidation of α-santalene. Titer [mg/L] % (Z)-α-santalol CYp71AV8 Oxygenated of total santalol variants sesquiterpenes products content CYP71AV8 wt 97.7 ± 2.8 78.1 ± 3.5 0% L358A  28 ± 1.5 40.3 ± 2.8 36%  L358F 88.4 ± 3.9 40.7 ± 0.4 46%  L358T 90.9 ± 5.6 33.8 ± 1.5 5% L358S 43.4 ± 1.8 15.3 ± 0.8 17%  L358V 56.1 ± 3.5 66.1 ± 1.1 1% L358G 84.3 ± 2.8  85 ± 2.2 0% L358I 71.2 ± 3.7  41 ± 0.3 0% L358M  84 ± 4.5  2.3 ± 0.3 0% L358P 71.6 ± 2.0  21 ± 1.1 0% L358Y 71.6 ± 2.9  0 ± 0 0% L358W 78.2 ± 0.6  0 ± 0 0% L358R  76 ± 1.1  2.3 ± 0.3 0%

The data presented in Table 1 above show that CYP71AV8 can be engineered and used to produce the (Z)-α-santalol. Particularly, the L358T, L358S, L358A and L358F variants can be used for the terminal oxidation of (+)-α-santalene with a selectivity up to 46% for the cis terminal carbon.

In a similar approach the variants of CYP71AV8 were evaluated for the production of (Z)-β-santalol. New plasmids were prepared by replacing the ClASS cDNA in the above plasmid by the SaSAS cDNA. Thus the plasmid pCW-CYP71AV8-L358F-CPRm-ClASS was digested with the restriction enzymes HindIII and EcoRI to remove the ClASS cDNA. In parallel, the pCWori-CYP71AV8-P2-CPRm-SaSAS was digested with the same enzymes to recover the SaSAS cDNA with the compatible cohesive ends. The linearized vector and the digested insert were ligated using the T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs). The plasmid thus obtained was used for in-vivo production of oxygenated sesquiterpenes in E. coli cells in the same condition as described above. The FIG. 8 present the GCMS profile of the analysis of the products formed by CYP71AV8-L358F and shows that modified CYP71AV8 enzymes can also be used to produce (Z)-β-santalol.

Example 8 Evaluation of Other Members of CYP71AV Family

CYP71AV1 (NCBI accession No ABB82944.1) was evaluated for the oxidation of sesquiterpenes with the santalene skeleton. A plasmid was prepared with a configuration similar to the plasmids described in example 5: a bi-cistronic operon containing an optimized cDNA encoding for an N-terminal modified CYP71AV1 protein (SEQ ID NO 53 and 54) and the aaCPR cDNA (example 5) was designed, synthesized in-vitro (DNA2.0) and cloned as a bi-cistronic operon into the pCWori+ plasmid. The plasmid was used to transform KRX E. coli cells (Promega). The transformed cells were cultivated and protein expression was induced as described in example 3. A bioconversion experiment using (+)-α-santalene as substrate was conducted as described in example 4. As shown in FIG. 9 the same products as with CYP71AV8 were obtained (i.e. (E)-α-santalol and (E)-α-santalal) showing that other members of the CYP71AV P450 family can be use for the terminal oxidation of santalenes.

Using CYP71AV1, a synthetic operon containing the CYP71AV1 cDNA, the aaCPR and the (+)-α-santalene synthase cDNA (ClASS) was prepared. The pCWori+ plasmid containing the CYP71AV8-P2-CPRm-ClASS operon (example 6) was digested with NdeI and HindIII to cut out the P450 encoding cDNA. In parallel, the CYP71AV1 cDNA was recovered from the bi-cistronic operon described in the previous paragraph by digestion with the same enzymes and ligated, using the T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs), into the digested pCWori plasmid described above yielding the plasmid pCWori-CYP71AV1-CPRm-ClASS. This plasmid together with the plasmid pACYC-29258-4506 were used to co-transform E. coli BL21 Star™(DE3) (Invitrogen) cells. The recombinant cells were cultivated in conditions allowing the production of sesquiterpene molecules as described in example 6. The GCMS analysis of the sesquiterpene produced revealed the formation of the same product as in the bio-conversion experiments. This experiment shows that CYP71AV1 can also be used oxidize santalene molecules and to produce santalols (FIG. 9).

Example 9 Construction of a P450-BM3 (CYP102A1) Mutant Library

A P450-BM3 mutant library of 24 variants was constructed by systematically combining five hydrophobic amino-acids (alanine, valine, phenylalanine, leucine and isoleucine) in two positions located close to the centre of the heme group of P450-BM3. Altering the side chain size of these two amino acids has been shown to drastically change the shape of the substrate binding cavity in close proximity of the heme group (Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2006, 70:53; Adv Synth Catal 2006, 348:763). The first hot spot (Phe 87) is known to alter substrate specificity and regioselectivity while the second position (Ala 328) has been predicted to interact with all substrates during oxidation (ChemBiochem 2009, 10:853). The P450-BM3 variants were either generated using the QuickChange™ site-directed mutagenesis kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) or were chemically synthetized by DNA2.0 (Menlo Park, Calif.). The P450-BM3 variants and wild-type were subcloned into the bacteria expression plasmids pET22b, pET28+, pETDuet-1 and pCDFDuet-1 (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) and were transformed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) or BL21Star™(DE3) (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.).

Example 10 Alpha-Santalene: In Vitro Screening of the P450-BM3 Library

The 24 P450-BM3 mutants and the wild-type version of the enzyme were heterologously expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) cells as reported previously (Adv. Synth. Catal. 2003, 345:802). In brief, a single colony of transformed cells was used to inoculate 2 ml of Luria-Bertani (LB) medium supplemented with 30 μg/ml kanamycin and grown at 37° C. with orbital shaking (150 rpm) until OD₅₇₈ reaches a value of 0.6 to 1.0. This pre-culture was used to inoculate 200 ml of LB medium containing 30 μg/ml kanamycin. The cells were grown at 37° C. with orbital shaking at 160 rpm to an OD₅₇₈ of 0.8. Expression of the protein was then induced by the addition of 0.35 mM isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). After 6 hours of growth at 30° C. under agitation, the cells were harvested by centrifugation and lysed by sonication.

The alpha-santalene used as substrate in the bioconversion assays was prepared as described in Example 4. The conversions were carried out in 1 ml of 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer containing ˜0.5 μM CYP enzyme, 2% (v/v) DMSO, and 0.2 mM μ-santalene substrate. Reaction was started by adding 0.1 mM NADPH and was carried out for 22 h at room temperature with moderate shaking.

Samples were then analyzed on a GC/MS QP-2010 instrument (Shimadzu, Japan) equipped with a FS-Supreme-5 column (30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 μm), helium as carrier gas (flow rate: 0.68 ml/min; linear velocity: 30 cm/s). Mass spectra were collected using electrospray ionization. The injector temperature was set at 250° C. The column oven was set at 50° C. for 1 min, then raised to 170° C. at 30° C./min, then raised to 185° C. at 5° C./min, held isotherm for 3 min, then raised to 200° C. at 5° C./min, then raised to 300° C. at 30° C./min, and finally held isotherm for 1 min.

Example 11 Alpha-Santalene In Vivo Screening of the P450-BM3 Library

The P450-BM3 mutant library was also screened in vivo using a bacteria strain engineered to produce (+)-α-santalene from a simple carbon source. To this end, the FPP-overproducing strain described in Example 4 was transformed with a pETDuet-1 plasmid containing a codon-optimized version of a (+)-α-santalene synthase from Clausena lansium (ClASS) (WO2009109597) (SEQ ID No 19 and 20) and each of the P450-BM3 variants cloned into the first and second multiple cloning sites (MCS) of the vector, respectively. Alternatively, the (+)-α-santalene synthase cDNA was cloned into the pET101expression plasmid (Novagen) and each of the P450-BM3 mutants from the library into the pCDFDuet-1 vector (Novagen). The resulting recombinant vectors were co-transformed in the FPP-overproducing strain.

Single colonies of transformed cells were used to inoculate 5 mL of LB medium supplemented with the appropriate antibiotics. Cultures were then incubated overnight at 37° C. and 250 rpm. The following day, 2 mL of Terrific Broth (TB) medium supplemented with 3% glycerol, 1 mM thiamine-HCl (Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis, Mich.) and 75 μg/L δ-aminolevulinic acid (Sigma-Aldrich) were inoculated with 200 μl of the overnight culture and incubated at 37° C. and 250 rpm. After 4 to 6 hours of cultivation (or when the optical density at 600 nm of the culture reach a value of 2 to 3), the cultures were cooled down to 28° C. and the protein expression was induced with 0.1 mM IPTG.

At that time, 10% (v/v) of dodecane were added to the growth media. After 48 h incubation with orbital shaking (250 rpm), the cell culture was extracted twice with one volume of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and the solvent extract analyzed by GC/MS. GC/MS was performed on an Agilent 6890 series GC system equipped with a DB1 column (30 m×0.25 mm×0.25 mm film thickness; Agilent) and coupled with a 5975 series mass spectrometer. The carrier gas was helium at a constant flow of 1 ml/min. Injection was in split-less mode with the injector temperature set at 250° C. and the oven temperature was programmed from 50° C. to 225° C. at 10° C./min and to 320° C. at 20° C./min. The identities of the products were confirmed based on the concordance of the retention indices and mass spectra of authentic standards.

The in vitro (Example 10) and in vivo screening of the P450-BM3 mutant library gave comparable results that are summarized in Table 2. While P450-BM3 wild-type (SEQ ID No 55 and 56) did not show any detectable activity on (+)-α-santalene, 6 P450-BM3 variants were able to convert α-santalene to the desired α-santalol(s). These variants revealed between 45% to 96% preference for oxidation of the cis-terminal carbon of (+)-α-santalene. The single mutant #23 (A328V) (SEQ ID No 67 and 68) and the double mutants #7 (F87I/A328I) (SEQ ID No 57 and 58), #17 (F87V/A328I) (SEQ ID No 59 and 60) and #18 (F87V/A328L) (SEQ ID No 61 and 62) showed the highest regioselectivity ranging from 72% to 96% (Table 2 and FIG. 10). Two additional variants #19 (F87V/A328V) (SEQ ID No 63 and 64) and #20 (F87V/A328F) (SEQ ID No 65 and 66) were less selective for the cis-hydroxylation (in the range of 45%-50%) and generated additional oxidation products.

TABLE 2 Alpha-santalene conversion to alpha- santalol(s) by P450-BM3 variants Additional cis-α- trans-α- oxydation Conver- santalol santalol products sion P450-BM3 (%) (%) (%) (%) Wild-type F87/A328 Variant #7 F87 I/A328 I 87 13 6 Variant #17 F87 V/A328 I 78 11 11 16 Variant #18 F87 V/A328 L 72 13 15 9 Variant #19 F87 V/A328 V 45.5 4 50.5 8 Variant #20 F87 V/A328 F 49 8 43 3 Variant #23 F87/A328 V 96 4 5

These results indicate that P450-BM3 active site mutations enable binding of the non-native substrate (+)-α-santalene. Selected P450-BM3 variants incorporating these mutations were shown to selectively hydroxylate the cis-terminal carbon of (+)-α-santalene to generate the olfactively important compound (Z)-α-santalol (FIG. 10).

Example 12 In Vivo Production of (Z)-α-Santalol, (Z)-β-Santalol, (Z)-α-Trans-Bergamotol and (Z)-Epi-β-Santalol Using a P450-BM3 Double Mutant

One of the P450-BM3 variants identified in the α-santalene screen (variant #17; Table 2) was tested for its ability to oxidize a sandalwood oil-like mixture of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons consisting of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene. To this end, the FPP-overproducing bacteria strain described in Example 4 was transformed with a recombinant pETDuet-1 expression vector containing a codon-optimized cDNA encoding for a Santalum album (+)-α-santalene/(−)-β-santalene synthase (WO2010067309) (SEQ ID No 21 and 22) into the first MCS and the P450-BM3 variant #17 in the second MCS. Cell growth, induction conditions, culture extraction and product analysis were performed essentially as described in Example 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene were efficiently oxidized by the P450-BM3 double-mutant to yield (Z)-α-santalol, (Z)-β-santalol, (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol and (Z)-epi-β-santalol. Remarkably, only the desired cis-isomers of the sesquiterpene alcohols were detected under these experimental conditions. These data show that the Bacillus megaterium CYP102A1 (P450-BM3) can be efficiently engineer to selectively hydroxylate the cis-terminal carbon of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene and structurally related terpenes such as bergamotane sesquiterpenes and to generate the key sesquiterpene alcohols found in Sandalwood oil.

Example 13 Isolation of a cDNA Encoding for SaCP816, a Cytochrome P450 from Santalum album

The seeds of S. album were obtained from B&T World Seeds (Aigues-Vives, France) and from Sandeman Seeds (Lalongue, France). The seeds were first surface sterilised in 2.5% Hypochlorous acid (HClO) for 120 min, and rinsed 3 times in sterile ultrapure water. The seeds were then shelled and placed on MS basal medium (Murashige & Skoog, 1962, Physiologia Plantarum 15, 473-497) supplemented with 15 g/L sucrose and 7.8 g/L agar, pH 5.7. Germination was typically observed after 9 to 18 days with a yield of approximately 40%. Seedlings of Santalum album obtained from the aseptically germinated seeds were transferred to soil 5 to 10 weeks after germination. Since Santalum species are root hemiparasites, the soil adaptation was made in close contact with 6-months to 1-year old citrus (Citrus sinensis) plants. The roots of the Santalum plants were harvested, 2-3 years after the transfer to the soils and separated from the host plant roots. GC-MS analysis of an extract of these roots showed the presence of the sandalwood oil characteristic sesquiterpenes. Total RNA was extracted from the roots using the Concert™ Plant RNA Reagent (Invitrogen). From 12 grams of tissue, 640 micrograms of total RNA were isolated.

The whole transcriptome was sequenced using the Illumina Total RNA-Seq technique and the Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencer. A total of 108.7 millions of paired-reads of 2×100 bp were generated. The reads were assembled using the De Novo Assembly application of CLC-Bio Genomic Workbench (CLCBo, Denmark). A total 82'479 of contigs with an average size of 683 bp were assembled. The contigs were search using the tBlastn algorithm (Altschul et al, J. Mol. Biol. 215, 403-410, 1990) and using as query sequence known P450 amino acid sequences such as the sequence of CYP71AV1 (NCBI accession No ABB82944.1). This approach allowed identifying several contigs encoding for proteins with characteristic cytochrome P450 motifs. One selected contig, SCH37-Ct816 (SEQ ID NO 69), contained a 1503 bp length open reading frame (ORF) (SEQ ID NO 70) encoding for a 500 amino acid protein, SaCP816 (SEQ ID NO 71). This amino acid showed homology with know cytochrome P450 sequences the closest sequence being a P450 from Vitis vinifera, CYP71D10 (NCBI accession No AAB94588.1) sharing 62% amino acid sequence identity.

Example 14 Heterologous Expression of SaCP816 in Bacterial Cells

For functional characterization of the protein encoded by SCH37-Ct816, the protein was heterologously expressed in E. coli cells. The ORF sequence was modified for improved expression in E. coli: the first 17 codons were replaced by the codons encoding for the MALLLAVFWSALIILV peptide (first 17 amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 73) and the codon usage of the whole ORF sequence was modified to match the E. coli codon usage. This cDNA (SaCP120293 (SEQ ID NO: 72) encoding for the modified SaCP816 (SEQ ID NO: 73) was synthesized in-vitro (DNA2.0) and cloned in the pJExpress404 plasmid (DNA2.0). The heterologous expression was performed as described in example 2.

Example 15 Co-Expression of SaCP816 and a P450-Reductase in Bacteria

A bicistronic operons was designed to express the P450 enzyme and a CPR from a single plasmid and under the control of a unique promoter. The optimized SaCP120293 cDNA was combined with the CPRm cDNA (SEQ ID No 9, Example 3) to prepare a bicistronic construct (SEQ ID NO 74) containing successively the P450 cDNA a linker sequence including a ribosome binding site (RBS) and the CPRm cDNA. This construct was prepared by PCR by amplifying the P450 and CPR cDNAs separately and with 5′ and 3′ overhangs suitable for the cloning using the In-Fusion® procedure (Clotech) in the NdeI-HindIII sites of the pCWori+ plasmid (Barnes H. J (1996) Method Enzymol. 272, 3-14) providing the plasmid SaCP816-CPRm-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 74).

The JM109 E. coli cells were transformed with the SaCP816-CPRm-pCWori expression plasmid. The transformed cells were grown and the cell-free extract containing the recombinant proteins were prepared as described in example 2. This protein fraction was used for the evaluation the enzymatique conversion of sesquiterpene molecules (example 16).

Example 16 In-Vitro Conversion of (+)-α-Santalene, (−)-β-Santalene, (−)-α-Trans-Bergamotene and (+)-Epi-β-Santalene Using the Recombinant SaCP816 P450 Enzyme

The different sequiterpene hydrocarbons used as substrates in the bioconversion assays were prepared as described in example 4.

The crude protein extract from E. coli cells expressing the recombinant SaCP816 and CPRm proteins (example 15) was used for the in-vitro oxidation of these sesquiterpene molecules. The assays were performed in 1 mL of 100 mM Tris-HCL pH 7.4 buffer containing 20 to 50 microL protein extract, 500 microM NADPH (reduced Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate), 5 microM FAD (Flavine adenine dinucleotide), 5 microM FMN (flavine mononucleotide), and 300 microM of sesquiterpenes (either (α)-santalene or a mixture of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene). After 2 hours of incubation in Teflon sealed glass tubes with gentle agitation, the reaction was stopped on ice and extraction with 1 volume of MTBE (Methyl tert-buthyl ether, Sigma). The extracts were analyzed by GCMS as described in example 4.

In these conditions, oxidation of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene was observed. FIG. 12 shows that the oxidation of (+)-α-santalene by SaCP816 provides (Z)-α-santalol. FIG. 13 shows that (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene were oxidized by SaCP816 to forme (Z)-α-santalol, (Z)-β-santalol, (Z)-α-trans-bergamotol and (Z)-epi-β-santalol. In all assays, no detectable amounts of the corresponding trans-isomers of the sesquiterpene alcohols was observed (the trans and cis isomers of each sesquiterpene alcohol are easily separated in the chromatographic conditions used in these assays).

This experiments show that the cytochrome P450 enzymes, SaCP816, isolated from Santalum album can be used for the selective hydroxylates the cis-terminal carbon of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene and similar sesquiterpene structures.

Example 17 In-Vivo Production of Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes in Engineered Cells Using the Recombinant SaCP816 P450 Enzyme

The oxidized products of (+)-α-santalene and the (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene, (+)-epi-β-santalene or other structurally similar molecules can also be produced directly in E. coli cells engineered to produce sesquiterpenes from a carbon source such as glucose or glycerol. Plasmids were prepared consisting of the pCWori+ plasmid containing a synthetic operon composed of the SaCP120293 cDNA (SEQ ID No 72), the CPRm cDNA (SEQ ID No 9) and a terpene synthase encoding cDNA. For the terpene synthase, the Clausena lansium (+)-α-santalene synthase cDNA (ClASS) (WO2009109597) or a cDNA encoding for a Santalum album (+)-α-santalene/(−)-β-santalene synthase (SaSAS) (WO2010067309) was used.

Two plasmids were thus constructed using a procedure similar to the procedure described in example 6. The codon optimized (+)-α-santalene synthase cDNA (SEQ ID NO 19) and the (+)-α-santalene/(−)-β-santalene synthase cDNA (SEQ ID NO 21) were amplified as described in example 6 and ligated using the In-Fusion® Dry-Down PCR Cloning Kit (Clontech, Takara Bio Europe) in the plasmids SaCP816-CPRm-pCWori digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme providing the two new plasmids SaCP816-CPRm-ClASS-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 75) and SaCP816-CPRm-SaSAS-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 76).

The evaluation of the performance of these operons was performed in the E. coli XRX cells (Promega) co-transformed with either of these 2 plasmids and with the plasmid pACYC-29258-4506 carrying a complete mevalonate pathway (example 4). Transformed cells were selected on carbenicillin (50 μg/ml) and chloramphenicol (34 μg/ml) LB-agarose plates. Single colonies were used to inoculate 5 mL of LB medium supplemented with appropriate antibiotics. Cultures were incubated overnight at 37° C. and 250 rpm. The next day 2 mL of TB medium in glass culture tubes containing 100 μg/L carbenicilin and 17 μg/L chloramphenicol, were inoculated with 200 μl of the LB pre-culture and incubated at 37° C. and 250 rpm. After 6 hours of cultivation (or when the optical density at 600 nm of the culture reach a value of 3), the culture were cooled down to 20° C. and the expression of the proteins was induced with 0.1 mM IPTG (Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside) and 0.1% Rhamnose, and 75 μg/L δ-aminolevulinic acid (sigma) and 2% (v/v) of decane were added. After 48 h incubation with 250 rpm shaking, the whole culture broth was extracted with 1 volume of MTBE and analyzed by GCMS as described in example 4.

All resulting strains produced the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as well as the corresponding oxygenated products also observed in the in-vitro experiments (FIG. 14). This experiment shows that using engineered cells expressing SaCP816, the sesquiterpenes (Z)-α-santalol, (Z)-β-santalol and other structurally similar molecules can be produced.

Example 18 Isolation of a cDNA Encoding SaCP10374, a Cytochrome P450 from Santalum album

As described in example 13, several P450-encoding contig sequences were identified in the transcriptome from Santalum album roots. Beside SCH37-Ct816, another contig was selected: SCH37-Ct10374 (SEQ ID NO 77), contained a 1533 bp length ORF (SEQ ID NO 78) encoding for a protein composed of 510 amino acids, SaCP10374 (SEQ ID NO 79), showing homology with know cytochrome P450 sequences and 58% identity with CYP71D10 from Vitis vinifera, CYP71D10.

Example 19 Heterologous Expression of SaCP10374 in Bacterial Cells and Co-Expression with a P450-Reductase in Bacteria

For functional characterization of the enzymes encoded by SCH37-Ct10374, the protein was heterologously expressed in E. coli cells. The ORFs sequence were modified to improve the expression in E. coli: the 18 first codons were replaced by the codons encoding for the MALLLAVFWSALII peptide and the codon usage of the whole ORF sequence was optimized. The new cDNA, SaCP120292 (SEQ ID NO 80), encoding for the modified SaCP10374 (SEQ ID NO 81) was synthesized in-vitro (DNA2.0) and cloned in the pJExpress404 plasmid (DNA2.0).

The heterologous expression was performed as described in example 2. Following this procedure, typical CO-spectra with a maximum absorbance at 450 nm was measured for this new recombinant S. album P450, attesting for a proper folding into functional P450 enzymes.

To reconstitute the activity of this P450 enzyme, a P450 reductase (CPR) was coexpressed. For this purpose, a bicistronic operons was designed similarly as described in example 15 to express SaCP10374 and CPRm (a mint P450 reductase) from a single plasmid and under the control of a unique promoter. The optimized SaCP12092 cDNA was combined with the CPRm cDNA to prepare the bicistronic constructs (SEQ ID NO 82) containing successively the P450 cDNA a linker sequence including a ribosome binding site (RBS) and the CPRm cDNA. This construct was prepared by PCR as described in example 15. and cloned in the pCWori+ plasmid (Barnes H. J (1996) Method Enzymol. 272, 3-14) providing the plasmid SaCP10374-CPRm-pCWori.

The JM109 E. coli cells were transformed with these bicistronic expression plasmid. The transformed cells were grown and the cell-free extract containing the recombinant proteins were prepared as described in example 2. The membrane protein fractions were used for the evaluation the enzymatique conversion of sesquiterpene molecules (example 21)

Example 21 In-Vitro Conversion of (+)-α-Santalene, (−)-β-Santalene and (−)-α-Trans-Bergamotene Using the Recombinant SaCP10374 P450 Enzyme

The different sequiterpene hydrocarbons (either (α)-santalene or a mixture of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene) used as substrates in this example of bioconversion assays were prepared as described in example 4.

The crude protein extract from E. coli cells expressing the recombinant SaCP10374 and CPRm proteins (example 20) was used for the in-vitro oxidation of these sesquiterpene molecules and the assays were performed as described in example 16. After 2 hours of incubation in Teflon sealed glass tubes with gentle agitation, the reaction was stopped on ice and extraction with 1 volume of MTBE (Methyl tert-buthyl ether, Sigma). The extracts were analyzed by GCMS as described in example 4.

In these conditions, oxidation of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene by SaCP10374 was observed. FIGS. 15 and 16 show that (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene and (+)-epi-β-santalene were oxidized by SaCP10374 to form (E)-α-santalol, (E)-β-santalol, (E)-α-trans-bergamotol and (E)-epi-β-santalol. In all assays, no detectable amounts of the corresponding cis-isomers of the sesquiterpene alcohols was observed (the trans and cis isomers of each sesquiterpene alcohol are easily separated in the chromatographic conditions used in these assays).

This experiments show that the cytochrome P450 enzyme SaCP10374, isolated from Santalum album, can be used for the selective hydroxylation of the trans-terminal carbon of (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene and structurally similar sesquiterpene molecules.

Example 22 In-Vitro Conversion of (E)-β-Farnesene, (E)-α-Farnesene, (−)-Sesquisabinene B, (−)-β-Bisabolene and (−)-α-Trans-Bergamotene Using the Recombinant SaCP816 and SaCP10374 P450s Enzyme

Using the method described in example 4, several sequiterpene hydrocarbons structurally similar to the santalenes were prepared. The (−)-sesquisabinene B and (−)-β-bisabolene were produced using the pETDuet expression plasmid containing either a cDNA encoding for SaTps647, a Santalum album (−)-sesquisabinene B synthase (NCBI accession No. ADP37190.1) or a cDNA encoding for SaTps30, a Santalum album (−)-β-bisabolene synthase (NCBI accession No. ADP37189.1), in combination with the pACYC-29258-4506 plasmid described in example 4. The β-farnesene was obtained from Bedoukian (Danbury, Conn., USA), α-farnesene was from Treatt (Suffolk, UK) and (−)-α-trans-bergamotene was purified from citrus oil.

The crude protein extracts from E. coli cells expressing the recombinant SaCP816 or SaCP10374 together with CPRm proteins (example 15 and 20) were used for the in-vitro oxidation of these sesquiterpene molecules. The assays and product identification by GCMS analysis was performed as described in example 16.

In these conditions oxidation of (E)-β-farnesene, (E)-α-farnesene, (−)-sesquisabinene B, (−)-β-bisabolene and (−)-α-trans-bergamotene, was observed (FIGS. 17 to 21). For all these compounds, the two S. album P450s are regioselective for one of the two carbons of the terminal gem-dimethyl group (R1 or R2 in FIG. 27): SaCP816 catalyzes the selective oxidation of the carbon atom of the methyl in cis position relative to the terminal double bond (R1 in FIG. 27), whereas SaCP10374 catalyzes the oxidation of the same substrates exclusively on the carbon atom of the methyl group in trans relative to the terminal double bond (R2 in FIG. 27). The trans and cis isomers of each sesquiterpene alcohol are easily separated in the chromatographic conditions used in these assays. The formation of the corresponding aldehyde when the trans-methyl group is oxidyzes is attributed to E. coli endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase activity.

This experiments show that the cytochrome P450 enzymes, SaCP816 and SaCP10374, isolated from Santalum album can be used for the selective hydroxylation of the cis-terminal and trans-terminal carbon, respectively, of various sesquiterpene molecules have structure similarities with β-farnesene, α-farnesene, (+)-α-santalene, (−)-β-santalene, (−)-α-trans-bergamotene, (−)-sesquisabinene B or (−)-β-bisabolene.

Example 23 In-Vivo Production of Various Oxygenated Sesquiterpenes in Engineered Cells Using the Recombinant SaCP816 or SaCP10374 P450s Enzyme

The oxidized sesquiterpene molecules described in example 21 and 22 can also be produced directly using whole cells, such as for example E. coli cells engineered to produce sesquiterpenes from a carbon source such as glucose or glycerol. Plasmids were prepared consisting of the pCWori+ plasmid containing a synthetic operon composed of the SaCP120293 cDNA (SEQ ID No 72), or the SaCP120292 (SEQ ID No 80), the CPRm cDNA (SEQ ID No 9) and a terpene synthase encoding cDNA (encoding either for an Artemisia annua β-farnesene synthase cDNA (NCBI accession No AAX39387.1.1), a Picea abies α-farnesene synthase (NCBI accession No AAS47697.1), a S. album (−)-Sesquisabinene B (NCBI accession No ADP37190.1), a S. album (−)-β-Bisabolene synthase (NCBI accession No ADP37189.1), a Clausena lansium α-santalene synthase (NCBI accession No ADR71055.1) or a S. album α-/β-santalene synthase (NCBI accession No ADP30867.1)).

The plasmids carrying the different combinations of synthetic operons were prepared using the following procedure. The plasmid pD444-SR-AaBFS (containing an optimized cDNA encoding for AaBFS, an Artemisia annua (E)-β-farnesene synthase (NCBI accession No AAX39387.1), the plasmid pD444-SR-PaAFS (containing an optimized cDNA encoding for PaAFS, a Picea abies (E)-α-farnesene synthase (NCBI accession No. AAS47697.1) were used to amplify by PCR the (E)-β-farnesene synthase and (E)-α-farnesene synthase cDNAs, respectively. The plasmids pETDuet-SaTps647 and pETDuet-SaTps30 (example 22) were used as template to amplify by PCR the sesquisabinene B synthase and the bisabolene synthase cDNAs, respectively. For each constructs primer were designed for the cloning using the In-Fusion® technique (Clontech, Takara Bio Europe). The AaBFS cDNA was amplified using the forward primer CPRm_aaBFS_Inf1 (TTACCTGCGTGATGTGTGGTAATAAAAGCTTAGGAGGTAAAAATGTCTACCCTGCCAATTTCTTC) (SEQ ID NO: 97) and the reverse primer AaBFS_Inf2 (ATGTTTGACAGCTTATCATCGATAAGCTGAATTCTTACACAACCATCGGGTGCACAAAGAATG) (SEQ ID NO: 98). The PaAFS cDNA was amplified using the forward primer CPRm PaAFS_Inf1 (TTACCTGCGTGATGTGTGGTAATAAAAGCTTAGGAGGTAAAAATGGATCTGGCAGTGGAAATCGC) (SEQ ID NO: 99) and the reverse primer PaAFS_Inf2 (CTCATGTTTGACAGCTTATCATCGATAAGCTGAATTCTTACATCGGGACCGGCTCCAGGACGGTGC) (SEQ ID NO: 100). The SaTps647 cDNA was amplified using the primer forward CPRm_Tps_647_inf1 (5′GCGTGATGTGTGGTAATAAAAGCTTAGGAGGTAAAAATGGCGACCGTTGTGGATGATTCT-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 101) and the primer reverse Tps647_Inf2 (GCTTATCATCGATAAGCTGAATTCTTACTCTTCATCCAGGGTAATCGGGTGG) (SEQ ID NO: 102). The SaTps30 cDNA was amplified using the primer forward CPRm_Tps30_Inf1-(GCGTGATGTGTGGTAATAAAAGCTTAGGAGGTAAAAATGGACGCATTCGCAACGAGCC) (SEQ ID NO: 103) and the primer reverse Tps30_Inf2 (GTGATGTGTGGTAATAAAAAGCTGAATTCTTAGTCCTCTTCATTCAGCGGGATCGGGTG) (SEQ ID NO: 104).

The PCR products were ligated in the plasmids SaCP816-CPRm-pCWori (SEQ ID No 74) or SaCP10374-CPRm-pCWOri (SEQ ID NO 82) digested with the HindIII restriction enzyme and using the In-Fusion Dry-Down PCR Cloning Kit (Clontech, Takara Bio Europe), providing the new plasmids SaCP816-CPRm-SaTPS647-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 83), SaCP10374-CPRm-SaTPS647-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 84), SaCP816-CPRm-SaTPS30-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 85), SaCP10374-CPRm-SaTPS30-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 86), SaCP816-CPRm-AaBFS-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 87), SaCP10374-CPRm-AaBFS-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 88), SaCP816-CPRm-PaAFS-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 89), SaCP10374-CPRm-PaAFS-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 90), SaCP10374-CPRm-ClTps2-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 91), and SaCP10374-CPRm-SaTps8201-pCWori (SEQ ID NO 92).

The in-vivo production of oxygenated sesquiterpenes in E. coli cells using the above plasmids was performed as described in example 17. All recombinant bacteria cells transformed with these plasmids produced the expected sesquiterpene hydrocarbons as well as the corresponding oxygenated products also observed in the in-vitro experiments (FIGS. 22 to 26). 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
 72. 2. A method for producing a polypeptide having P450 monoxygenase activity comprising transforming a host cell or non-human organism with the nucleic acid of claim 1; and culturing the host cell or organism under conditions that allow for the production of the polypeptide.
 3. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 4. The vector of claim 3, wherein the vector is a prokaryotic vector, viral vector or a eukaryotic vector.
 5. The vector of claim 3, wherein the vector is an expression vector.
 6. A host cell or non-human organism comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, or a vector comprising said nucleic acid molecule.
 7. An isolated host cell or single celled organism comprising the nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, or a vector comprising said nucleic acid molecule. 